Bigger Picture Moment

She made the trip every summer-

Colorado to Minnesota,

from her own life back to the place she grew up.

Early morning through the winding mountain roads,

excitement of the trip permeates the car,

where she and her two boys are packed in with all the things they will need

and maybe some things they won't.

They all look forward to the refuge of the Minnesota summer.

The mountain road descends into the city, 

which quickly turns to plains, the epic mountain range still in view.

She has made this trip many, many times,

and doesn't look forward to, nor dread, the long flat road from Denver to MN.

It just is what it is. 

This time, however, is different. 

As she rolls into Nebraska, she notices a different kind of beauty

that has escaped her before. 

The slightly rolling fields, decorated with rows of corn and soy,

enrapture her senses. 

The air is different, balmy.

It smells so sweet. 

She has on talk radio, which strangely soothes her,

and there is a program on about seizing opportunity,

and listening to God's call.

She's not your typical Christian, if she can even refer to herself as Christian.
Her own beliefs contradict many Westernized Christian beliefs. 

But today, on a Christian radio station in Nebraska
(that happened to be one of two stations that came in),

there is something that speaks to her heart 

and has her yelling out "Amen!"

It speaks the loving, compassionate side that Jesus taught

rather than the fear based, judgmental side we too often see in the "Christian" population.

The late afternoon, early evening is her favorite time of the day.

The way the sun is low in the sky and casts it's glow on everything is majestic. 

Colorado has a beauty that is so in your face with it's pointed snowcapped peaks,

and sparkling clear rivers. 

Here in Nebraska, however, it's subtle. 

As the sun sets, every stage of the sunset has her almost in tears

at the sheer beauty of it. 

It's magic.

And it seems to last an eternity. 

Sunsets like this don't happen in Colorado.

The flatness of this land allows it to go on and on and on

with brilliant shades of oranges and pinks

cast over the green rolling fields. 

She cannot stop exclaiming it's beauty and she must lay her hand over her heart.

It's just so.....full, this heart of hers. 

She wonder's how all this beauty could've escaped her so many times.

Something has shifted in her.

She has always been so aware of the suffering in the world, 

but now, through her own suffering,

her heart has opened wide to the joy.

Simple joy, that can be found within the suffering,

found in every moment. 

Sunsets and fields, trees and flowers, children and friends, 

singing voices and bright smiles. 

They are free. They are all around us.

They are the grace of God. 

Her heart is full of the grace of God,

even when she is a mess.

Even when life is a mess.

Grace remains.

Joy is attainable in any moment and she gets to choose it.

What. a. gift.

I'm linking up today with Alita's Bigger Picture Moments. This post is referring to me. For some reason I'm often called to writing in the third person. I love this link up and hope to be more of a regular once I return from Africa. Blessings on your summer. May you find joy in each moment, even the hard ones.